Athletics Origins Origins were functional like the endurance needed by an army or accuracy of the...
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Transcript of Athletics Origins Origins were functional like the endurance needed by an army or accuracy of the...
Athletics Origins
• Origins were functional like the endurance needed by an army or accuracy of the hunter.
• Athleticism popular with Ancient Greeks, They used the term ‘man of action’
• Popular recreation athletics in 2 forms. Traditional festivals and Pedestrianism.
Traditional Festivals• Multi-sports: meeting needs of whole
community. E.g. wrestling, throwing, running, smock race.
• Ancient festivals found in Cornwall, Lake District, Scottish Highlands.
• Look at the picture of Robert Dovers Cotswold Olympick games.
• What sports can you see?• What characteristics of popular recreation are
shown?
Cotswold Games held in Gloucester at Whitsun from 1612.
Pedestrianism
• Forerunner of professionalism.
• They were race-walkers who earned a living by accepting challenges such as racing others or walking specific distances in certain times.
• They were supported by Upper Class patrons and heavy wagering.
• Upper class would also wager on races between their footmen and servants
PEDESTRIANISM
Question
• Look at the picture of the pedestrian versus the Gentleman Amateur.
• List the motives or reasons for both to be competing
Answer
• Pedestrian - For money. To support his family. Better than labouring. For fame. Because he is good at it. To prove he is as good as others.
• Gentleman - because he enjoys it. To prove himself (character development). As a challenge (physical endeavour). As a wager.
Influence of the Public Schools
• Athletics type sports were developed from Hare & Hounds (cross country).
• Not liked at Arnold stage because meant going out of school grounds and was an individual event rather than team.
• Stage 3 (1850s) saw the introduction of athletics weeks finishing with a sports day.
• Wider athletics programme including running, hurdling, jumps and field events.
continued• Public school athletics championships began.• A winter cross country season began.• Ex pupils established university athletics
clubs with inter-varsity athletics and cross country. Full Blue status.
• First recognised Athletics meeting was Exeter College in 1850. Programme was more like a horserace meeting. List of events and competitors. (Handicap)
Professional Athletics - rationalisation• Rural fairs declined and professional
athletics developed in big cities.
• Lower class made a living from running. Not as much money as pre-Victorian peds.
• Handicap system - often cheating, ‘roping’, ‘running to the book’ and ‘ringing in’ were common.
• Purpose built tracks from 1830 in most major cities. 25,000 crowds watching & wagering (spectators paid).
Amateur - Rationalisation• Amateur Athletic Club (AAC) formed 1866
by Ex-Oxbridge Gentlemen & London club.
• Did not want to be involved with professionals
• Amateur was seen as strictly no financial reward and no lower class (Gentlemen Amateurs).
• National Olympian Society(NOS) also set up in 1866. All males could compete but no prize money allowed.
Amateur Athletics Association
• The AAC was based in the South and NOS was in the North , a divide again!
• AAA set up in 1880, no class exclusion but still no financial gain.
• Regular meetings in Spring and Summer improved the standard of competition.
• Many towns also had Harrier Clubs with regular x country races in the Winter.
Rationalised athletics - a stand, spectators, organisation, judges.
Athletics today
• Discussion points.
• How has the distinction between amateurs and professionals changed?
• Think back to GCSE . USA - Scholarships, Russians being in the Armed Forces, Trust Funds.
• Is there prize money today?
• What about the Olympics?